this is our message to the world to declare r 1 John 1.5 that God is light and in him is no darkness at all and to turn people from the darkness to this light that they may be brought out of the estate of degeneration and imperfection where they have lain covered with gross darkness feeding themselves with the hypocrites hope and empty shadowes as of a light without a word without Christ without A Church without baptism without bread and wine without ordinances and administrations all without which makes not the commers thereunto perfect being carnally observed according to traditions received from men and that which most agravates their misery they are self conceited and will not hearken to the reproofs of instruction nor receive the things of the Spirit of God when freely tendered and offered without money and without price Oh that you did but know the desires and breathings that proceeds from the spirit that ever lives to make intercession unto God for you why will you spend your money for that which is no bread and your labour for that which doth not satisfy how long will you make lies your refuge and feed upon ashes and cover your selves with unrighteous coverings the flying Angel is gone forth with the everlasting Gospel to preach to all nations kinreds tongues and languages and the call hath reached unto you that have been asleep s Dan 12.2 in the dust of the earth Therefore harden not your hearts but incline your eares and hearken diligently what the spirits saith and take heed of t Heb. 2. neglecting this great salvation for this is the day of your visitation and once more a word of exhortation to you as from the Lord to return to u Joh. 12.3 the light and believe in the light and love the light c. w Rev. 21.2 walke in it that you may have fellowship with us and that you may be received into the generall assembly where the only true God is worshipped in the spirit and truth x Psa 29.2 in the beauty of holiness but he saith pag. 13. we know it is an easy thing to be received by them without any letters of recommendation for if a man will but turn away from Christ and faith and scriptures and obedience and turne to the light within and say he is perfect and can say thee and thou he may quickly be one of their Church c. But truely he is deceived herein for it s not so easy to be a member of our Church which is the true Church as he ignorantly pretends though the gates be not at all shut by day yet there can in no wise enter any thing that defileth and is polluted nor no prophane person neither whatsoever worketh abomination y Rev. 22.15 for without are dogs and drunkards and sorcerers and whoremongers and swearers and murderers and idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a lye and its death to any beast that comes near the mountain of the Lords house which is established in the top of all mountains z Isay 2. and exalted above the hills where we worship God in the spirit in the true order and fellowship where all may speak a 1 Cor. 14. one by one as the spirit moves and gives utterance and if any of the adulterated generation should come among us from a far country and bring a letter of recommendation from some great man of the world or from an assembly of professing people his spirit would soon be tryed whether he were of God or not for we cannot b Joh. 4.1 believe nor receive every spirit that may come with excellency of speech and the inticing words of mens wisdom and be commended by men and pass for a good Christian in the worlds account for we know the voice of Christ c â—â—h 10.5 and strangers we cannot hearken to And as for such as turnes away from Christ faith and obedience they are more like to be received by and to find acceptance among the Anabaptists then among us if they will but take up their great ordinance as they call it to wit water Baptism the second or third time and make Confession of their sins that light spirit that wretched worldly spirit c. They must be owned as brethren and sisters Christs excellent ones although they be cruell to children and servants mockers of God c. See a large description of the Estate of their Church in their Epistle from Tiverton and look abroad among all professions in the nation if worse fruits can be found then is brought forth among them but how can we expect better till the vineyard be dressed by husbandmen of the Lords calling and sending its manifest they ran and was not sent and therefore the people are not profited by them and truly its far easier to be a member of such an imperfect Church as theirs the way being so wide then it is to be of ours for the way is straight that leads to it d Cor. 12.13 the Baptisme being spirituall by which they are received in and the naturall man cannot receive the things of the spirit of God and the words thee and thou doth not make a member of the true Church neither are they the principle of our Religion for they may be used in the deceipt as well as the truth may be holden in unrighteousness though they be proper and pure language and by us used and owned yet let none think that our Religion depends only upon words but that we are builded upon the sure foundation of many generations for an habitation of God through the spirit e â—ph 2.20.22 Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone and many that pretends to Religion in these dayes and professes the scripture for a rule are so far from coming to be of our Church that a word of exhortation can hardly have entrance among them neither can the scripture language be born by T.C. and his adherents for because I said the Law is f Heb. 7. changed and the Priesthood is changed and the Covenant which made not the commers thereunto perfect for the weaknesse and unprofitableness of it is done away c. he saith take these words as they are stated and they speak forth most horrible iniquity though they be stated expresly as they 〈◊〉 in Scripture and saith he the ordinances that we walke in are the new testament ordinances grounded upon the new restament Covenant but truly it s very unlike seeing their Covenant and ordinances doth not make the comers thereunto perfect which thing he denyes both in Epistle and practice as is plainly manifest to the childrne of light And should I but trace him through his Epistle from Tiverton and this imperfect piece written as a vindication of it and their Churches imperfect Estate a Large volume would but contain the particular circumstances but I shall refer the reader to that Epistle and mine in persuance of
THE LINE OF TRUE JUDGMENT Laid to an imperfect piece published By Thomas Collier which he calls an Answer to an Epistle written to the Churches of the Anabaptists c. A Reply herein is published in order to the Exaltation of the spiritual man with his Ordinances and Administrations above the man of sin with the weak and unprofitable Ordices that doth not make the comers thereunto perfect BY Thomas Salthouse Behold ye despisers and wonder and perish for I work a work in your dayes a work which ye shall in no wise believe though a man declare it unto you Acts 13.41 Therefore they say unto God depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes Job 21.14 They are of those that rebell against the light they know not the wayes thereof nor abide in the pathes thereof Job 24.13 LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate THe Reader may here observe that the first entrance into this discourse was occasioned by a printed Paper from Tiverton wherein the state and condition of the Anabaptists Churches was represented which came to my hand and after I had read it over and considered their condition to be far short of what they profess I was moved to write an Epistle to them and sent it among them for the better information of the honest hearted and for the sake of such as are not altogether settled upon the lees and as an answer to that Epistle Thomas Collier hath written a Pamphlet to vindecate their practise and present condition shewing them many examples and instances of the Saints failings in former ages tending to their incouragment in the estate of sin and imperfection intimating that notwithstanding their great abominations therein expressed they are and may be owned as the Church of God in persuance whereof I was constrained to send this reply as a farther manifestation of the good will of him that would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth with a seasonable word written by J.C. added hereunto which may go abroad among them to be read received and considered of by such as have not refused to Return T. S. The line of true Judgement laid to an imperfect piece published by Thomas Collier which he calls an Answer to an Epistle written to the Churches of the Anabaptists c. WHen I consider the gross darknes degeneration and Apostacy of some high pretenders to Religion and how willfully ignorant they are become of the great mistery of Godliness b 1 Tim 3 1â— not liking to retain God in their knowledge nor to hearken to the reproofs of instruction which is the way of eternal life I remember what the spirit hath expresly spoken concerning such c Rom. 1.28 that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and Doctrines of Divels speaking lies in hypocrisie having their consciences seared as with an hot Iron making Shipwrack of the mystery of faith d 1 Tim. 4. which is held in a pure conscience and which was once delivered unto the Saints which purifies the heart and gives victory over the world and after a diligent search and examination had who it is that are given up to strong delusions to believe lies and who teacheth for doctrines the traditions of men e 1 Tim 3.9 creeping into houses and leading about silly women Captive Laden with sin and led away with divers lusts ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth nor to perfection I find by evident testimony that the people cal'd Anabaptists are as chiefly concerned herein as many of those whom they themselves have formerly pretended to differ from and declare against as Ante-Christian both in call practice maintainance doctrine and worship with whom they are joyned and confederate to fight against the truth as it is in Jesus as by their practice and the writings of some of them is plainly and clearly made manifest for with the light of Christ are they seen through their unrighteous covering and feigned humility and with the Spirit of truth are they tryed their language bewrayes them f Eph. 2.12 to be strangers to the Covenant of promise yea such as cannot indure sound doctrine nor receive the things of the spirit of God when in the fear of God freely tendered and offered unto them And forasmuch as Thomas Collier a Teacher among them hath several times ingaged himself with the beast and false Prophet to make war against the Lamb and his followers by publishing his own imaginations to render them odious to the world Suggesting their way and worship of the true God to be heresy and errour as his forefathers in all ages have done and now once more under pretence of Answering an Epistle of mine written in the fear of God and sent to them in love he hath manifested much folly enmity ignorance and wickedness by wresting and perverting the words of truth and soberness therein contained as he hath done and doth g 2 Pet. 3.16 the Scripture of truth to his own destruction that he may not be exalted in his wickedness and so proceed further to boast of what he hath done herein or heretofore against the truth and the faithful witnesses of it I am constrained for the vindication of the truth in general whereof I am a witness and for which I suffer a little farther to search into his works of darkness that his covering may be stript off and his refuge of lies swept away that he may stand naked and bare in the presence Dan. 7.9 of the ancient of dayes before whom the matter in controversie is to be debated and as for what I wrote in that Epistle and do write on this account it is commended to that of God in the conscience of all such as are simple hearted and sober minded to be read and received without prejudice either against the truth which is reproached by the world or against the earthen vessel which is herein imployed as an instrument and who hath without prejudice against any particular person though occasion was given to mention him made these things publique in persuance of a pamphlet lately published by T. C. called an answer to an Epistle written by me to the Churches of the Anabaptists so called When his pretended answer was brought to light and deliberately searcht through and weighed in an equal ballance the scope of his discourse and weight of his arguments was first to prove that they might be the Church of God notwithstanding their great abominations and wickedness confessed in their Epistle from Tiverton with several instances and agravations of the failings of those in former ages whom the Lord sent his true Prophets and Ministers to declare against and to call to repentance and hereby he would imply that the Churches of God in former ages have been sinful and wicked like themselves who profess and would be
accounted the Church of Christ in these dayes though imperfect Secondly Against the being of the seed of God and light of Christ within men thirdly against the Saints attaining to perfection and freedom from sin whilst in this mortal estate which is the very end for which Christ Jesus gave gifts unto his Ministers ordaining some to be Prophets some Apostles some Pastors and some Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministery for the edifying of the spiritual body till we all come in the unity of the faith unto a perfect man in Christ Jesus in whom the whole building fitly framed together groweth to an holy temple in the Lord and the Apostle saith know you not that your bodies are the temples of the holy Ghost i 1 Cor. 3.17 and if any man defile the temple of God him will God destroy k 1 Thes 1.1 and the Church is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ where nothing that is unclean can enter and the tabernacle of God is with men as he hath said I 'le walk in them and dwell in them though T C. have affirmed that God never had yet a Church in the world free from sin and so hath laid sin to the charge of Gods Elect for l John 3.8 he that commits sin is of the Devil and a servant of sin and so free from righteousness and this is the cause he hath undertaken to plead In the front or enterance into his paper he hath cited this Scripture to the Law and to the testimony if any speak not according to this rule it is because there is no light in them Now in regard he hath put in his declaration and goes about to plead a title or propriety that the man of sin hath and must have in the Church of Christ whilst here on earth and hath here cited the Law and Testimony which I own for a rule to try by I am constrained as Defendant to join issue and plead with him according to the Law of Truth in the presence of our Judge and Law-giver whose judgement is true and whose testimony is sure But first it is to be considered what the Law and what the Testimony is and where they are according to the Scripture Thy law is light Prov. 6. The law is spiritual Rom 7.14 The law gives the knowledge of sin Rom. 3 20. And behold the daye come saith the Lord Jer. 31. that I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers which Covenant they break but this shall be the Covenant that I will make with them after those dayes I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts And again Heb. 10. I will put my laws in their hearts and in their minds will I write them and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more and this is the Covenant that makes the comers thereunto perfect and the Law which makes free from the law of sin and death and he that believeth hath this witness in himself and so hath set to his seal that God is true and the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophesie and this is that sure word spoken of 2 Pet. 1.19 And we have also a more sure word of prophesie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts mark In your hearts the Law in the heart the light in the heart the testimony of Jesus the sure word of prophesie in the heart the word of faith nigh in the heart And now to come to the matter he saith pag. 2. Christ was sent to save his people and not to save onely the oppressed seed or light within to which I say he was sent to set the oppressed free and to save his people from their sins and to open the eyes of the blind m John 9.39 that those that saw not might see n Mat. 18.11 and the son of man was sent to seek and to save that which was lost and the Lord of hosts hath left us a seed else o Rom. 9. we had been as Sodome yea like unto Gomorrah and this seed is within and we know that the whole Creation travelleth together in pain until now and not onely they but our selves also that have the first fruits of the spirit even we our selves have groaned within our selves for the redemption of the body which God hath prepared to do his will p 1 Cor. 15 who giveth unto every seed it s own body and he that is begotten of the immortal seed and born again of water and of the spirit is saved from his sin and he sinneth not neither can he because the seed of God remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God 1 Joh. 3. Mark he cannot sin because he is born of God and because the seed remaineth in him But T.C. saith pages 2 3. It is language besides the Gospel of truth that Christ came to save the oppressed seed within and farther that he dare say it is such a salvation as never came into the heart of God nor was ever known to Prophets Apostles or Christ himself to save the oppressed seed of God in men with which his Covenant is made Here he hath contradicted the Scriptures of truth above-mentioned with many others that might be instanced likewise he hath contradicted himself for he with others of his brethren directs their Epistle from Tiverton to such as are called to be Saints through the immortal seed which dwelleth in them now if it be language besides the Gospel of truth to mention the oppressed seed within why doth he make use of the expression and if it be according to truth why doth he suggest that those who use such expressions are poor deluded people and because I said in the beginning of my Epistle to them I am constrained with compassion to the oppressed seed in you which groans to be delivered from the bondage of corruption c. he seems to render it an offence by false constructions arising from an evil affected mind wresting and perverting my words and then calling it a mear cheat to please children and sools as if it were a language not fit to be spoken of or once named among them that are grown so strong in the state of imperfection And because my Epistle was directed to the Anabaptists Churches so called and then I denied them to be the Church of Christ and told them that their presumption was seen that called themselves the Church of Christ and were not as their blasphemy was known that called themselves q Rev. 2 9. Jews and were not He calls this contradiction and confusion but the confusion is in himself as may appear to the impartial Reader of that
through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead and u Rom. 6. Therefore we are buried with him by Baptisme into Death that like as Christ was raised from the Dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walke in newness of life and as hee is so are we in this present world 1 Joh. 4. and the Church of the Hebrews was come w Heb. 12.23 to the Spirits of Just men made perfect and they who testified these things was not hypocrits as in this mans account and now I leave it to the spirituall mans judgment whether ever God had a Church in this world free from sin or any that durst confess it yea or nay and farther hee affirmes pag. 7. that they that calls themselves the Church of Christ and say they are without sin in this mortall Estate are none of the Church of Christ for he had never yet any such Church To this I say his judgment is false and denyed and declared against by the children of light and witnessed against by the Scripture of truth for the Life of Christ hath been and is made manifest in mortall flesh and x 2 Cor. 4.7 we have this treasure in harth en vessels and for this purpose was the son of God made manifest to take away sin y 1 Joh. 4.3 and every Spirit that Confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and this is that Spirit of Anti-Christ that now is in the world but where Jesus Christ is made manifest in the flesh hee is made manifest to Destroy the works of the Devill to wit sin and to condemn sin in the flesh that the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled In us who walks not after the flesh but after the Spirit being Created again z Eph. 2.10 in Christ Jesus unto good works a Coll. 1.4 in whom we have Redemption through his blood who hath purged away our sins by the washing of Regeneration glory to his name for ever without boasting we can speak it to the praise of his grace who hath wrought all our works for us and In us that b 1 Joh. 5.19 wee are of God though the whole world lieth in wickedness and that Christ have had and yet hath a Church without sin in this mortall Estate for hee that sinneth hath not seene God neither known him and we deny all such to be the Church of God and of Christ as lives in sin and pleads for sin whilst in this mortall Estate who makes a profession of the Scriptures and comes not to the Life and power declared of by them For the Scripture we own and the Covenant which makes the comers thereunto perfect and the bringing in of a better hope we witnesse and the Law which makes free c Rom. 8.2 from the Law of sin and death and the unchangable ordinances and Administrations to which we are subject doth not perish with the using and the Baptisme by which wee are made members of the Church of Christ doth not Decrease but increase and save from sin and all such as are called Churches and yet remains in sin in the unconverted and Imperfect Estate offends in many things and are seduced and deceived being out of the truth they are enimies to the Cross of Christ in the strife and envy against truth and these are not the Church of Christ neither do they know it but are strangers to the saints Life having a likeness of a thing a forme of godliness but not the power d Rev. 3.1 a name to live and are dead and with such we have no union knowing them by their voice to be strangers and therefore wee turne away from them and cannot but deale plainely and faithfully with them though we bee reproched by them with the name of Quakers and joyned with Pharisees and Hypocrites because we cannot conforme to the customs of the Heathen and plead as they do for the Devills kingdom of sin and Imperfection that Anti-Christ may have quiet possession in the Church of Christ so long as it remaines here in the world And because we cannot own them as Ministers and Elders of the Church of Christ that sometimes murmurs and complaines of the tyrannicall government of the man of sin in them but pleades for the continuance of sin in the Church whilst in this mortall Estate therefore hee concludes that we are not sensible of sin in our selves nor in others as to warn them to mourn and seek the Lord for them To which I say we all like sheep have gone a stray and in sin we were conceived and in iniquity brought forth and were by nature the children of wrath even as others till it pleased the father in the riches of his grace and love to reveal his Son in us to destroy the works of the Divell and to condemen sin in the flesh and by his blood to cleanse us from all sin and we have known the terrours of the Lord and his indignation against sin and have been made sensible of our condition whilst sin reigned in our mortall Bodies and wee have mourned under it every familie apart when by the light of Christ it was made manifest and by faith in him many have obtained victory over the sin that did easly beset us and lead us captive and how can we that are dead to sin live any longer therein shall we continue in sin and plead for so doing like you that grace may abound nay God forbid that any such thoughts should enter into our hearts to draw us back to the pollutions which we have escaped and with the dog to the vomet and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire again nay verily we are snesible of that condition and cannot but warn them that yet remains in it and exhort them to come forth of it and we do pitty them and pray for them that they may be delivered from the bondage of corruption and out of the snares of the enemie and turned from the darkness to the light that as obedient children they may come to walk honestly as in the day in the light of the Lord and to this end do we labour and travile and freely administer as we have received commending our selves to that of God in every mans conscience again hee saith pag. 9. let both heaven and earth tremble at such rebellion and pride as this is Intimating that we Judge and Condemn all that dare not walk in such a way of disobedience c. Hear I appeal to all sober minded people that ever heard us speak or read our writings whether ever we judged or condemned any that was obedient t othe faith or when did we ever press any to disobedience or did in the least countenance it but have often declared that the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience and surely if this man had not a face